How Kevin Lankinen got back on track for Blackhawks originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Blackhawks went into the 2020-21 season with three unproven goaltenders and were hoping one of them would emerge as a potential No. 1 starter. Not only has Kevin Lankinen done that so far, but he quickly played his way into the Calder Trophy discussion after starting the season 7-2-3 with a 2.29 goals-against average and .921 save percentage and one shutout.
Since then, however, his numbers have come back down to earth. He went 3-5-1 with a 3.67 goals-against average and .893 save percentage over his next nine starts, which included a stretch where he dropped four of five in regulation.
Lankinen got back on track in the Blackhawks' two-game series against the Florida Panthers after giving up only two goals on 76 shots for a save percentage of .974, highlighted by a 41-save shutout in Thursday's 2-0 victory.
"Obviously huge," Connor Murphy said of Lankinen's performance. "To have a shutout is unbelievable. He seems to be in his groove. ... He was really solid and really happy for him, having such a great year."
Lankinen said before Tuesday's game he made "a couple tweaks" and has recently focused his attention with goaltending coach Jimmy Waite on finding pucks through traffic and "beating plays on your feet." In other words, standing your ground and being more patient.
And it's paid off.
"He's been really solid, just under control," head coach Jeremy Colliton said. "He's made some big saves but he's looked comfortable in there even on the routine saves. He's been working hard and hopefully this is a real confidence builder. This is an excellent team we played here and two really good performances."
It would've been naive to think Lankinen wouldn't cool off at some point, especially in a Central Division that features three of the league's top teams in Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay. It's the first real adversity he's faced at the NHL level and he's handling it like a pro.
"That's part of being in the league and showing that you're up to the task," Colliton said. "There's going to be adversity and there's going to be nights that it goes against you. Everyone goes through it. But if you want to survive, you do have to respond. So it's a big few games for him here."
Lankinen's 41-save shutout is the most saves any goaltender has made in a white-wash this season, and a handful of them were high-quality stops, too. He's not one to get too high or too low, but Lankinen will certainly reflect on this performance before turning the page.
"It's never easy to win this league," Lankinen said. "I'm really grateful for every chance I get to start, even more grateful for every win we're able to get. Whenever I get all the stuff done here at the rink, I'm going to go home to my fiancée and probably enjoy the night and enjoy the win and then move on and get better."
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